Volume pedal question.

SveinungL · From: Gjøvik - Norway - Europe - Earth

I have a Cobra Coil volume pedal that works the same way as the old Sho-Bud pedals (with a wire wrapped around the pot to make it turn.) At low volume settings the tone looses a lot of the brightness that comes at full volume. I want the tone to be the same at both high and low volume settings. Should I change the potmeter?

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Thanks SveinungL - Norway
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Kentucky Riders

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

That is the problem almost all of us face, to some extent. It is a problem that has been fixed by Keith Hilton with his Hilton infrared volume pedal.

However, if your volume pedal has a 250K ohm pot in it, instead of the usual 500K ohm steel guitar volume pedal pot that could also cause some of your problems.

Bill Rowlett · From: Russellville, AR, USA

You can also try adding a line driver, FET pre-amp or impedance matcher between your guitar and the pedal input. Goodrich makes several models and Hilton had a digital sustain seperate unit out at one time. There are also some Little Izzys still floating around. As Jack has said in the past, a Boss FET pre amp works too. I sometimes use the Boss acoustic simulator in line before the pedal as a match box. Most of the time, however I don't use anything

Bill

[This message was edited by Bill Rowlett on 09 January 2001 at 08:30 AM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Like Jack said, if you have a 250K pot in the pedal, pull it out and put in a 500K. They work a lot better. Also, keep the cords short as possible. I've seen many steelers using a 20' cord when the steel and amp are only 8' apart...bad idea.

Actually, the "problem" you (and many other steelers) notice is mostly in your head.

You see, the response of the human ear is nowhere near "flat", and the low frequency sensitivity of our ears falls off rapidly at low volumes. Manufacturers of old hi-fi gear noticed this, and they put in what is called a "loudness" control. Basically, what it does is boost the low frequencies at lower volume levels...to make up for our "audiological shortcomings". But, with a constantly-varying control, this won't work. A powered pedal, or a 3-wire hookup, will help somewhat, but you'll never get a real good tone while playing at a low volume. That's just a fact of life.

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